John schofield



( 0 Model.)

' J. SGHOPIELD. FRAUD PREVENTIVE DEVICE FOR SLOT MACHINES.

No. 475,899. Patented May 31 1 2 ,Z 9 s1: 7 f.

M E I a \3 HI 6i: ,i i ii i YIILJ ii i 2;: \JLJ S UNITED STATES PATENT Fries...

JOHN SOHOFIELD, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

FRAUD-PREVENTIVE DEVICE FGR SLOT-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,899, dated May 31, 1892.

Application filed December 10, 1891. Serial No. 414,614. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN SOHOFIELD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fraud-Preventive Devices for Slot-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the means for preventing the introduction into vending-machines of articlessuch as disks, buttons, and the like-intended to cause the fraudulent operation of the device without the employment of a nickel or otherpiece of money for which the machine is intended.

The invention consists of a small drawer or slide having ahinged section,'both the drawer and hinged section having an opening which together form a socket to receive only the coin of the desired size and carry it within the machine when the drawer is pushed in, the weight of the coin then causing the hinged section to drop and deposit the coin in the coin-chute. I also use, in connection with the drawer having the hinged perforated leaf mentioned, a catch arranged adjacent to the coin-drawer and adapted to be held up by the coin of the proper thickness, but to fall and catch the drawer, and thus prevent its inward movement should another coin or article of less thickness be placed on the coin-drawer.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my coin-drawer in place; Fig. 2, asection of the same, showing it in its outward position, the inward position being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a section on line so a; of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, F is the wall of the casing of any well-known, slot-machine. A boss 2 is provided on the wall, and through an opening therein a drawer 3 may be slid out and in, its outward movement being limited by stops 4 bearing against the inner side of the wall. This drawer has a circular opening 4 of a diameter adapted to receive accurately a coin of the proper denomination. A section or leaf 5 is hinged to the drawer to drop by gravity when the drawer is pushed in, and this has an opening 6 of smaller diameter than the opening 4, but arranged directly beneath it, so as to form a small ledge 7 at the bottom of the opening 4, upon which the coin of proper size will rest and lie flat. The opening 6, however, is of such a size as will permit the free passage through it of a coin or article of smaller size than the one intended, and thus when such a coin is used it will simply fall through the opening outside of the machine. When a coin of proper size has been put in place, the drawer is pushed inward until the pivot-point of the hinged leaf gets within the casing, and the leaf being then unsupported by the wall of the casing will fall freely and under the Weight of the coin, and the coin will then fall into the chute or upon the mechanism in any of the well-known ways. The depth of the opening 4 is accurately gaged to the thickness of the coin intended to be received. Should a thicker coin or article he introduced into the opening, it will project above the upper surface of the drawer, and when the drawer is pushed inward it will strike the wall about the opening in the casing and thus stop the drawer.

In order that the drawer may be automatically stopped in case a thinner coin or article than the proper one be introduced, I provide a spring-catch 10 in the boss, which has movement across the line of the drawer and bears upon its upper surface. Should the coin be thinner than the intended one, the catch falls and engages with the edge of the opening 4 as the drawer is moved in. The drawer, with its hinged leaf, is of equal depth throughout its extent, the leaf being arranged under the reduced or cut-away part of the drawer, and the parts are so fitted that the opening in the boss of the casing is accurately filled and the lower edge acts as the bearing for raising the hinged leaf as the drawer moves out and for holding it up while in its outward position.

In order that the coin may be accurately guided when the leaf drops, said leaf is provided with edges or sides 11. When the leaf is up, these embrace the side edges of the main part of the drawer.

I claim- 1. A fraudpreventive for a coin-controlled apparatus, comprising a drawer having an opening 4 in its main part and a hinged leaf provided with an opening of smaller size arranged below the opening 4 and forming a ledge to receive the coin, said leaf being arranged to fall by gravity when the drawer is pushed within the casing of the apparatus, and means for limiting the outward movement of the drawer, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, the casing having an opening, the drawer having an opening 4, and a hinged leaf with an opening 6 in line with the said opening 4, the said opening 6 being smaller and providing a ledge to support the coin of proper size with its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the drawer and the catch to engage the edge of the opening 4 when a thin coin is used, substantially as setforth.

3. In combination, the casing having an opening, a coin-drawer adapted thereto, having a socket to receive the coin, formed by an opening 4, extending partially through the drawer from its upper side and continued through to the other side by an opening of smaller diameter, forming a shoulder 7 which is a part of and movable with the drawer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN SOHOFIELD.

Witnesses:

JAMES M. TULLY, JONATHAN MARsHALL. 

